Customer billing in a communications network

Abstract

In a packet communications network, e.g. a third generation wireless network, combined billing of a user is provided for the delivery of communications services to that user and for the on-line purchase of goods and services by the user via the communications network. A set of rules is provided and a respective billing tariff and account is determined from the rules and each packet address. Credit transfers are made between user accounts and the accounts of goods/services supplies held in a common database.

1 . A method of billing a communications network user for goods or services associated with the transport of packet traffic from that communications network into a packet communications network, each packet having an address, wherein the method comprises; providing a set of rules, and determining from said rules and each packet address, a respective billing tariff and account for that packet.  
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein account details for network users and providers of goods and services are stored in a common accounts database.  
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein transfers of credit between accounts stored in the accounts database are determined from coupons generated for each transaction.  
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein network users have prepaid and postpaid accounts.  
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each user account is accorded a respective credit limit.  
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a user validation is performed prior to completion of a transaction.  
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the network is a wireless network  
     
     
         8 . A method of on-line shopping in which the cost of goods or services purchased by a customer are debited to that customer's pre-paid or postpaid account with a network operator, and a corresponding credit is applied to an account held by the provider of those goods or services.  
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein a transaction charge is retained by the operator.  
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein a supplier of goods or services is credited with a portion of the network operator's revenue for the transport of packet traffic relating to a transaction.  
     
     
         11 . A method of providing combined billing of a communications packet network user for the delivery of communications services to that user and for the on-line purchase of goods and services by the user via the communications network, wherein the method comprises; providing a set of rules, and determining from said rules and each packet address, a respective billing tariff and account for that packet.  
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein network users have prepaid and postpaid accounts.  
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein each user account is accorded a respective credit limit.  
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein a supplier of goods or services is credited with a portion of the network operator's revenue for the transport of packet traffic relating to a transaction  
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said network comprises a wireless network.  
     
     
         16 . Software in machine readable form on a storage medium and arranged to perform the method of  claim 15 .  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus for billing a communications network user for goods or services associated with the transport of packet traffic from that communications network into a packet communications network, the apparatus comprising: means for providing each packet with an address, a store having a set of rules, and a packet analyzer for determining from said rules and each packet address, a respective billing tariff and account for that packet.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein network users have prepaid and postpaid accounts.  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein each user account is accorded a respective credit limit.  
     
     
         20 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said network comprises a wireless network.